Note: Effective Nov 2, 2020, Indian government has given the contract to VFS Global. Previous contract with CGKS has ended. We are updating the instructions as they become available.
For all related VFS Global contact information, visit their official website.
A separate application must be made for each person, even if they are family members. When applying for OCI card in the US, you need to follow the procedure describe below:
You must upload the digital photograph, signature image and several documents on the government website. The exact documents to be uploaded varies by the category applied in and are listed in the specific check list listed on the documents page.
Print the form and paste your photograph on the OCI form and sign where indicated.
OCI Submission in USA
An application for OCI Card in USA can be submitted to VFS Global by shipping. Submit the documents by mail, to VFS Global, according to your jurisdiction. The procedure is described in detail below:
You can use the Shipping method for sending the documents as well receiving the passport back.
Once VFS Global receives your application, you will receive an email acknowledgment with the status ‘Received, but Not Verified’. Once they verify your application, you will receive another email indicating the outcome of the verification process.
While making an online application, you will select the ‘Walk-In’ as the submission option and follow the steps below:
The application can be submitted in person either by the applicant or immediate family member of the applicant, with a proper authority letter and proof of relationship.
In case you are applying for a minor child, both parents have to present themselves at the counter. If one of the parents is unable to attend, an authority/consent letter must be given by the parent not attending, authorizing the other parent to apply alone.
If all documents are in order, your original US passport/foreign passport will be returned to you within 2-3 working days after verification.
Processing by VFS Global
Once VFS Global receives your application along with supporting documents, they will submit them to the respective Indian Embassy/Consulate for processing. In the order of their receipts in the consulate, applications are scrutinized to ensure the completeness of all required documents and information for deciding the eligibility of applicant(s) for granting OCI status.
If they find that any of the documents, forms for payments are missing or if there is any deficiency in your application, you will be notified via email for re-submission of the necessary documents.
Until they receive your documents, your application will be ‘On Hold’.
If they don’t receive your documents within 21 days, they will return your documents. In this case, the VFS Global service fee will be non-refundable.
Processing at MHA
After preliminary scrutiny, if there is no adverse information available against the applicant, the Indian Mission/Post shall register a person as OCI within the processing time of the application and the case shall be referred to MHA for post verification of the antecedents of the applicant. If during the post verification, any adverse information comes to the knowledge of the MHA, the registration as OCI already granted by the Indian Mission/Post shall be cancelled by an order under section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The persons will also be blacklisted, banning their entry into India.
After preliminary scrutiny, if there is any adverse information against the applicant, prior approval of MHA shall be required before granting of registration. MHA may approve or reject the grant registration within 120 days from the date of the receipt of the application. If the grant of registration as OCI is approved by MHA, the Indian Mission/Post shall register the person as an OCI.
If the application is filed in India, registration shall be granted by MHA by following the above procedure.
If the registration as OCI is not granted, an amount of U.S. $250, or equivalent in the local currency, shall be refunded if registration is refused. There is a non-refundable processing fee of U.S. $25.
My Account
Currently unavailable.
You can access My Account for a wide variety of services. In order to access My Account, you need Web Reference Number, Passport Number and Date of Birth.
Once you login, you would be able to access the following:
OCI Application Processing and Tracking
Application Tracking
When you schedule an appointment, you will be provided a Reference number generated by VFS Global. Reference number printed on the online application form is NOT valid for tracking with VFS Global.
Application Processing
When the Consulate returns such applications, they would utilize the return postage/envelope supplied with the application that was originally meant to send back the completed application/documents.
OCI Application in India
If the applicant is in India, they can apply to the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Amritsar. They can also apply to the Chief Immigration Officer (CHIO) in Chennai, or to the Under Secretary, OCI Cell, Citizenship Section, Foreigners Division, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at their respective addresses or at
Under Secretary (Foreigners Division)
Ministry of Home Affairs,
Jaisalmer House, 26 Man Singh Road,
New Delhi-110 011
OCI Application in Other Countries
The completed application, along with all enclosures, should be submitted to the Indian Mission/Post of the country of applicant’s citizenship. Or if the applicant is not in the country of their citizenship, the completed application (with all enclosures) should be submitted to the Indian Mission/Post of the country in which they are ordinarily a resident.
Application must be submitted by express mail to the “OCI Cell” of appropriate Embassy/Consulate. It is not possible at this time to go in person or complete all the forms online.
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